The present study examined the experience of self-cutting, what stops adolescent girls from engaging in self-cutting, and what message adolescent girls who are self-cutting would want to send to other girls taking part in this behavior. Using an existential-phenomenological method of interviewing, adolescent girls were asked a serious of questions in order to gain insight into their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about the experience of self-cutting. Each interview was tape recorded, transcribed, and thematized. The participants in this study were labeled co-researchers due to the significant role that they had in the completion of this study. The co-researchers consisted of six adolescent girls aged 15 to 18 years old. They all attended high schools within a large urban school district in Florida. Through a reduction of the data obtained during the interviews, five superordinate themes were discovered for the first research question, which examined the experience of self-cutting. The themes depicted the following experience. Before engaging in self-cutting, each co-researcher had "A Lot of Feelings" stemming from "A Big Event" that they needed to "Release." They chose cutting because "Nothing [else] Ever Worked" and the act of cutting made them "Numb" and feel "No Pain." Themes developed from the second research question, which examined what stops adolescent girls from self-cutting, included "Thinking About the People Who Care" or when "Thinking About the Consequences" of cutting. If they could send a message to other girls who are cutting, the co-researchers in this study would say "Don't Do It." The co-researchers were able to articulate other coping strategies to serve the same function as cutting but sometimes refused to implement them. Results of this study support the findings of previous research.

[Truncated abstract]The overall aim of the research reported in this thesis was to develop and validate an instrument that would identify children among the general population at risk of self-harm. To achieve this, four separate yet interrelated studies were conducted. Study One, which sought to explore the risk factors of self-harm in children comprised a series of focus interviews with three paediatricians and 24 mothers of children who had self-harmed or who had verbalized self-harm ideation. The findings revealed that prior to the onset of self-harming or self-harm ideation these children reportedly manifested other problem behaviours that prompted their mothers to seek specialist advice from a paediatrician. The majority of these problem behaviours were characteristic of externalizing problems, either in the form of conduct problems, aggressive behaviours or impulsiveness. Conversely, some problem behaviours were characteristic of internalizing problems such as anxiety and depression. These findings provided valuable information which in addition to the current literature created the conceptual framework for the subsequent studies. Study Two incorporated the information obtained from Study One, along with that obtained from a review of existing instruments that measure self-harm or suicide, to develop a new instrument specifically designed to assess the risk of children in the general population developing self-harming behaviours. Initially, 159 items were generated and using the extant knowledge regarding the risk factors of self-harm as a guide, the items were categorized into risk factors of anxiety, depression, low self- ii worth, social difficulty, social withdrawal, helplessness, hopelessness, atypical cognition, emotional lability, impulsivity, self-harming ideation and self-harm. ... Study Four comprised four interrelated investigations, the purposes of which were to (i) examine the prevalence rates of self-harming ideation and self-harm among young school aged children in the general population; (ii) investigate differences of risk of self-harm between the referred group and community comparison group; (iii) examine the relationship between impulsivity and risk of self-harm in these children and, (iv) examine the relationship between executive function and risk of self-harm among these children. The results from these investigations revealed that approximately 3.5% of children aged between 6 to12 years in the general population manifest self-harming ideations and approximately 2.5% actually self-harm. No significant age or gender differences were found. Children that presented with a higher level of risk of self-harm also presented with a complex array of internalizing and externalizing problem behaviours. Furthermore, children who displayed significantly higher levels of hyperactive-impulsive symptomatology scored higher on the SHRAC instrument, as did the children who had higher levels of executive functioning impairment. The findings are discussed and interpreted in line with the current research literature and are used to make suggestions for future research.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Department of Psychology, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Australia, 2007.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Riverside, 2009. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 229-243). Issued in print and online. Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2005. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-124). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.N. (Clinical))--Victoria University of Wellington, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. A.) -- Pacifica Graduate Institute, 2006. / Production thesis: contains podcasts by the author. Includes bibliography.

O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia-UFU, na Linha de pesquisa Educação em Ciências e Matemática. As questões orientadoras da pesquisa foram: O que adolescentes de duas escolas públicas da cidade de Uberlândia dizem sobre as práticas da automutilação? Quais as possíveis estratégias sugeridas por adolescentes de duas escolas públicas da cidade de Uberlândia para um trabalho com o tema corpo que favoreça a discussão da automutilação no espaço escolar? Para isso objetivou-se analisar o que dizem adolescentes, de duas escolas (municipal e estadual) da rede pública de ensino da cidade de Uberlândia, sobre as práticas de automutilação. E, como objetivos específicos: identificar os posicionamentos de adolescentes frente ao que denominam automutilação e o porquê dessa prática; levantar possíveis estratégias sugeridas por adolescentes para um trabalho com o tema corpo que favoreça a discussão da automutilação no espaço escolar. A fundamentação teórica pautou-se, centralmente, nos estudos de corpo, automutilação, gênero e educação. Do ponto de vista metodológico, o estudo insere-se no quadro das pesquisas qualitativas, com cunho etnográfico em educação, e o levantamento de informações foi realizado por meio de observações, aplicação de questionário, grupos de discussão direcionados aos (as) adolescentes do ensino fundamental. A partir das informações e análises concluímos que os dizeres dos (as) alunos (as) permitiram que tomássemos a automutilação como uma prática cujo sentido aciona noções como doenças, depressão, dor, sofrimento, prática de grupo, constituição da identidade e dos sujeitos adolescentes. A prática da automutilação é justificada de formas diversas – depressão, problemas afetivo-amorosos, familiares entre outros. A maior incidência da prática é entre meninas e é marcada pelos padrões hegemônicos de gênero e construída socioculturalmente. As estratégias sugeridas para um trabalho com o tema corpo que favoreça a discussão da automutilação no espaço escolar, envolve a realização de conversas, projetos e palestras dentro e fora da escola. / This work was developed in the Graduate Education in the Federal University of Uberlândia-UFU program, research line Education in Science and Mathematics. The guiding research questions were: What teenagers from two public schools in Uberlândia says about the practices of self-mutilation? What are some strategies suggested by teenagers from two public schools in Uberlândia to work with the body theme that encourages the discussion of self-harm at school? For this study aimed to analyze what they say teenagers, two schools (state and municipal) public schools in the city of Uberlândia, on self-mutilation practices. And as specific objectives: to identify the positions of teenagers across the styling self-mutilation and why this practice; up possible strategies suggested by teens to work with the body theme that encourages the discussion of self-harm at school. The theoretical guided up centrally in the body of studies, self-mutilation, gender and education. From a methodological point of view, the study falls within the framework of qualitative research with ethnographic education, and the collection of information was done through observations, questionnaires, discussion groups targeted to (the) adolescent education key. From the information and analysis we concluded that the words of (the) students (as) allowed us to take the self-mutilation as a practice whose meaning trigger notions such as illness, depression, pain, suffering, group practice, identity formation and adolescent subjects . The practice of self-harm is justified in various forms - depression, affective-love problems, family and others. The highest incidence of the practice is among girls and this is marked by hegemonic standards of gender and socio-culturally constructed. The suggested strategies to work with the body theme that encourages the discussion of self-injury at school, involves conducting conversations, projects and lectures in and outside of school. / Dissertação (Mestrado)

Introdução: A automutilação tem sido considerada uma maneira disfuncional de enfrentar situações-problema, geralmente com grande carga emocional, uma vez que pessoas que apresentam este diagnóstico parecem ter poucas estratégias de enfrentamento, dificuldade para regular o afeto e limitada habilidade de resolução de problemas. O início da automutilação geralmente ocorre na adolescência e, na maioria dos casos, ocorre remissão sem precisar de intervenção profissional. Essa remissão estaria associada com o desenvolvimento cognitivo, principalmente com o desenvolvimento de estratégias adequadas de enfrentamento. No entanto, 10% dos casos permanecem com esse comportamento na fase adulta e, muitas vezes, apresentam comorbidades psiquiátricas, caracterizando casos mais graves, com maiores dificuldades cognitivas e habilidades sociais deficitárias. São raros os estudos sobre automutilação em adultos. Assim, verifica-se a necessidade de estudos que avaliem o desempenho das funções executivas nessa população para melhor caracterização e compreensão desse comportamento. Dessa forma, intervenções mais adequadas e eficazes poderão ser desenvolvidas, assim como trabalhos de prevenção. Objetivos: Estudar o desempenho executivo de pacientes que apresentam automutilação, bem como comparar a capacidade de resolução de problemas em pacientes com automutilação a um grupo controle. Método: Estudo descritivo transversal, com amostra de 66 indivíduos, todos com idade superior a 18 anos com, no mínimo, quatro anos de escolaridade formal. Foram comparados dois grupos: o primeiro, com 33 pacientes que procuraram tratamento psiquiátrico devido à automutilação; e o grupo controle, com 33 participantes sem nenhum transtorno psiquiátrico no momento da avaliação. Todos os participantes foram submetidos a uma avaliação psiquiátrica (SCID I/P) para confirmação do diagnóstico e verificação dos critérios de inclusão/exclusão, investigação de sintomas de impulsividade (BIS-11), de comportamento de automutilação (FASM), assim como de depressão e ansiedade (Beck). Também passaram por uma bateria de avaliação neuropsicológica, que contemplou o mapeamento das funções executivas, tais como flexibilidade mental, controle inibitório, planejamento, capacidade de abstração/categorização, memória operacional e tomada de decisão; avaliação da capacidade de resolução de problemas por meio de teste comportamental. O desempenho das funções executivas e da capacidade de resolução de problemas dos participantes com automutilação foi comparado ao desempenho executivo do grupo controle, levando-se em consideração gênero, faixa etária, nível socioeconômico e QI, controlando para escolaridade. Por fim, foram feitas correlações entre gravidade de automutilação e desempenho executivo e desempenho executivo e capacidade de resolução de problemas. Resultados: A maioria dos pacientes era do sexo feminino (81,8%), assim como nos controles (72,7%). A média de idade no grupo de automutilação foi de 29 anos e no grupo controle, 31. No grupo com automutilação, a média de idade de início da automutilação foi de 16 anos. O comportamento mais comum encontrado foi o corte na pele, e a razão mais comum para se engajar no comportamento foi \"para parar os sentimentos negativos\". As comorbidades psiquiátricas mais comuns foram o transtorno depressivo maior (em 60,6%) e transtorno de ansiedade generalizada (em 48,5%). O grupo com automutilação teve pior desempenho nas seguintes funções executivas: flexibilidade mental, controle inibitório, planejamento, tomada de decisão. O grupo de automutilação também apresentou maior impulsividade que os controles e pior desempenho em relação à capacidade de resolução de problema. Observou-se ainda que funções executivas (controle inibitório, planejamento e tomada de decisão) influenciam no processo de tomada de decisão. Houve associação entre pior desempenho em testes que avaliam tomada de decisão (IGT e DDT) com maior gravidade da automutilação (IGT: p = 0,009 e DDT: p = 0,008). Conclusão: Foi possível evidenciar que adultos com automutilação apresentam resultados inferiores quando comparados a controles no que diz respeito a capacidade de resolução de problema, flexibilidade mental, controle inibitório, planejamento e tomada de decisão. Assim, os resultados indicam que as pessoas que iniciam com o comportamento de automutilação na adolescência e persistem até a fase adulta, como uma forma de enfrentamento de situações-problema, demonstram certa imaturidade cognitiva, possivelmente devido a alterações no córtex pré-frontal, impactando no comportamento, nas emoções e nos pensamentos. E, ainda, apresentam automutilação com maior gravidade associada a outros transtornos psiquiátricos. Esses resultados apontam para a necessidade do emprego de intervenções específicas de reabilitação cognitiva no tratamento desses pacientes / Introduction: Self mutilation has been considered a dysfunctional way of dealing with problematic situations, usually with great emotional charge, since people who have such diagnosis appear to have few coping strategies, difficulty to regulate affect and limited problem-solving skill. The beginning of self mutilation usually occurs during adolescence and in most cases there is remission without professional intervention. This remission is associated with the cognitive development, especially with the development of adequate coping strategies. However, 10% of cases remain with this behavior in adulthood and often exhibit psychiatric comorbidities characterizing more severe cases, with higher cognitive and social skills deficit. Studies on self mutilation in adults are rare. Thus, it is verified the need for studies that evaluate the executive functions performances among this population for a better characterization and understanding of this behavior. Therefore, more adequate and effective interventions can be developed, as well as prevention efforts. Objectives: To study the executive performance of patients presenting self mutilation, as well as compare the problem-solving capacity in patients with self mutilation to a control group. Method: Cross-sectional descriptive study with a sample of 66 individuals, all aged over 18 years, with at least four years of formal schooling. Two groups were compared: the first, with 33 patients who sought psychiatric treatment due to self mutilation; and the control group, with 33 participants without any psychiatric disorder at the time of evaluation. All participants underwent a psychiatric evaluation (SCID I / P) to confirm the diagnosis and verification of the inclusion/ exclusion criteria, symptom investigation of impulsivity (BIS-11), self mutilation behavior (FASM), as well as depression and anxiety (Beck). The participants have also undergone a pile of neuropsychological evaluation, which contemplated the mapping of the executive functions, such as mental flexibility, inhibitory control, planning, capacity for abstraction / categorization, working memory and decision making; assessment of problem-solving ability through behavioral test. The performance of the executive functions and problem-solving skills of the participants with self mutilation was compared to the control group executive performance, taking into account gender, age, socioeconomic status and IQ, controlling for educational level. Finally, correlations were made between self mutilation severity, executive performance and problem-solving capability. Results: Most patients were female (81.8%) as well as in controls (72.7%). The average age in the self mutilation group was 29 years and in the control group, 31. In the group presenting self mutilation, the average age of self-injury onset was 16 years. The most common behavior found was skin cutting, and the most common reason for engaging in thus behavior was \"to stop the negative feelings.\" The most common psychiatric comorbidities were the major depressive disorder (60.6%) and generalized anxiety disorder (48.5%). The group with self mutilation had worse performance in the following executive functions: mental flexibility, inhibitory control, planning, decision making. The self mutilation group also had higher impulsivity than the controls and worse performance on problem solving capability. It was also observed that executive functions (inhibitory control, planning and decision making) influence the decision making process. There was association between worse performance on tests that evaluate decision making (IGT and DDT) with higher severity of self mutilation (IGT: p = 0.009 and DDT: p = 0.008). Conclusion: It was possible to evince that adults with self mutilation score lower when compared to controls regarding problem-solving skills, mental flexibility, inhibitory control, planning and decision making. Thus, the results indicate that people who start self mutilation behavior during adolescence and persist into adulthood as a coping mechanism to problematic situations, demonstrate certain cognitive immaturity, possibly due to alterations in the prefrontal cortex, impacting behavior, emotions and thoughts. And further, they exhibit self mutilation with higher severity in association with other psychiatric disorders. These results point to the need for the use of specific cognitive rehabilitation interventions in these patients treatment